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Game brings out the fans

Raven fan Eric Everette, left and his son in law, Niner fan Patrick Sullivan, both of Daytona Beach, react to a play during the Superbowl with their wives seated behind them at the Daytona Ale House on Sunday.

News-Journal/STEVEN NOTARAS

ANTHONY DeFEOSTAFF WRITER

Published: Sunday, February 3, 2013 at 9:41 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 4, 2013 at 10:19 a.m.

Ed Kraher can make a pretty strong claim for being Volusia County's biggest San Francisco 49ers fan. The Ormond Beach man did name his daughter Josie after former quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana.

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But with the 49ers facing Baltimore in Sunday's big game, Kraher decided to stay home.

"I've enjoyed Super Bowls with people before. This year, I'm just going to watch the Super Bowl with my family," he said. "I don't want to hear Ravens fans in the background."

Until the lights went out in the second half with a power outage at the Superdome in New Orleans, Kraher was no doubt glad to be out of earshot of Baltimore fans, whose team took an early lead and held on for a 34-31 win.

For most everybody else, though, the occasion was a chance to come together and cheer for a good game, judge the best television commercials and check out Beyonce's halftime show.

At the Daytona Ale House, fans lined up for hours before the game. They filled the restaurant's booths, tables and bars nearly to capacity for a chance to get a glimpse of the big game on the dozens of big-screen TVs above them.

Patrick Sullivan of Daytona Beach wore a 49ers jersey to watch the game, though his allegiances weren't as deeply felt as Kraher's.

"I'm rooting for the 49ers tonight. I think they're going to beat Baltimore," he said. "They got a good team, and I'm rooting against my father-in-law."

Across the table sat Eric Everett, the aforementioned father-in-law, dressed head-to-toe in Ravens gear. Though he's lived in Daytona Beach since 1987, he's a native of Baltimore.

Like Kraher, Lulu Taggart felt a family connection to the game and the 49ers.

"Our daughter, Megan, was born on Jan. 9, 1993. We were actually in the (divisional playoffs) with the (Washington) Redskins," she recalled.

Kickoff came just about the same time her daughter was kicking her way out.

"The nurse came and turned off the TV, and I snapped at her," Taggert said. "I bit her head off. I said 'It's a 49ers game! Are you crazy?' "

The nurse promptly turned the TV back on, she said, the 49ers held on to win, and 20 years later her daughter has grown up to be quite the Niners fan (even though they lost a week later to the eventual champion Dallas Cowboys).

On the Ravens' side, Jerry Howell planned to spend the evening watching the game at Traders' in downtown New Smyrna Beach along with his girlfriend, Beverly Calvert. Howell moved to the area from Baltimore about two and a half years ago.

"I got to see some of their games in person there at the stadium," Howell said. "That's the thing I miss most about Baltimore."

<p>Ed Kraher can make a pretty strong claim for being Volusia County's biggest San Francisco 49ers fan. The Ormond Beach man did name his daughter Josie after former quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana. </p><p>But with the 49ers facing Baltimore in Sunday's big game, Kraher decided to stay home. </p><p>"I've enjoyed Super Bowls with people before. This year, I'm just going to watch the Super Bowl with my family," he said. "I don't want to hear Ravens fans in the background." </p><p>Until the lights went out in the second half with a power outage at the Superdome in New Orleans, Kraher was no doubt glad to be out of earshot of Baltimore fans, whose team took an early lead and held on for a 34-31 win. </p><p>For most everybody else, though, the occasion was a chance to come together and cheer for a good game, judge the best television commercials and check out Beyonce's halftime show. </p><p>At the Daytona Ale House, fans lined up for hours before the game. They filled the restaurant's booths, tables and bars nearly to capacity for a chance to get a glimpse of the big game on the dozens of big-screen TVs above them. </p><p>Patrick Sullivan of Daytona Beach wore a 49ers jersey to watch the game, though his allegiances weren't as deeply felt as Kraher's. </p><p>"I'm rooting for the 49ers tonight. I think they're going to beat Baltimore," he said. "They got a good team, and I'm rooting against my father-in-law." </p><p>Across the table sat Eric Everett, the aforementioned father-in-law, dressed head-to-toe in Ravens gear. Though he's lived in Daytona Beach since 1987, he's a native of Baltimore. </p><p>Like Kraher, Lulu Taggart felt a family connection to the game and the 49ers. </p><p>"Our daughter, Megan, was born on Jan. 9, 1993. We were actually in the (divisional playoffs) with the (Washington) Redskins," she recalled. </p><p>Kickoff came just about the same time her daughter was kicking her way out. </p><p>"The nurse came and turned off the TV, and I snapped at her," Taggert said. "I bit her head off. I said 'It's a 49ers game! Are you crazy?' " </p><p>The nurse promptly turned the TV back on, she said, the 49ers held on to win, and 20 years later her daughter has grown up to be quite the Niners fan (even though they lost a week later to the eventual champion Dallas Cowboys). </p><p>On the Ravens' side, Jerry Howell planned to spend the evening watching the game at Traders' in downtown New Smyrna Beach along with his girlfriend, Beverly Calvert. Howell moved to the area from Baltimore about two and a half years ago. </p><p>"I got to see some of their games in person there at the stadium," Howell said. "That's the thing I miss most about Baltimore."</p>